What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedFargo
Joel Coen · Film · 1996
If you loved Fargo, start with Fargo (Noah Hawley, 2014) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Fargo across media.
What hooked you in Fargo was the way ordinary people spiral into chaotic, violent absurdity within the confines of small-town life.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Fargo
Noah Hawley · Series · 2014
Books on the same thread
Farewell, My Lovely
Raymond Chandler · Book · 1992
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Corruption, Femme Fatale.
Like Fargo, this classic hardboiled tale captures the cynical moral decay of characters caught in a web of greed and homicide, grounded by a sharp, observant detective narrator.
Harry Hole
Jo Nesbø · Book · 1997
Shares a thread with Fargo: Crime Thriller.
This series mirrors the bleak atmosphere of Fargo by pairing a flawed, struggling investigator against the dark, systemic corruption that permeates the cold, isolated landscapes of its setting.
Get Shorty
Elmore Leonard · Book · 1990
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Hollywood satire, Mobster in Hollywood.
If the dark humor of Fargo resonated with you, you will appreciate this story for its similar ability to find comedy within the desperate, bumbling schemes of criminal characters.
The Noir Thriller
Lee Horsley · Book · 2016
Shares a thread with Fargo: Violence.
This analytical look at the noir genre explains the very foundations of the moral ambiguity and urban cynicism that you enjoyed while watching the events of Fargo unfold.
Series on the same thread
Weeds
Jenji Kohan · Series · 2005
Shares a thread with Fargo: Dark Comedy.
Much like Fargo, this story follows a suburban protagonist who finds themselves hopelessly out of their depth after turning to crime, leading to a series of escalating, dark complications.
Ozark
Bill Dubuque · Series · 2017
Shares a thread with Fargo: Neo-Noir.
You will recognize the same descent into moral decay found in Fargo as this family becomes increasingly entangled in a dangerous criminal underworld through their own desperate choices.
Breaking Bad
Vince Gilligan · Series · 2008
Shares a thread with Fargo: Neo-Noir.
Fargo highlights how quickly lives unravel due to poor decisions, a theme perfectly mirrored here as a desperate man faces the brutal, life-altering consequences of his own criminal ambition.
Twin Peaks
Mark Frost · Series · 1990
Explores: Small Town Secrets, Doppelgangers, Good vs Evil.
This show shares the signature Fargo blend of small-town secrets and mounting existential dread, proving that even the quietest communities hide deep, unsettling mysteries beneath their surface.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
This podcast captures the same specific tone as Fargo by balancing detailed forensic analysis with a comedic, observational take on the tragic irony of rural, small-town crime.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
Much like the audience for Fargo, listeners of this show appreciate the intersection of dark, heavy subject matter and the conversational, comedic relief found in human storytelling.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is the 2014 Fargo TV series a direct sequel to the 1996 movie?
The 2014 Fargo television series is not a direct sequel to the 1996 film. It functions as an anthology series that maintains the tone and setting of the original movie while featuring a new cast and unique criminal investigations in each season.
Should I watch the 1996 Fargo movie before starting the 2014 TV series?
You do not need to watch the 1996 Fargo movie to understand the 2014 TV series. While the show draws inspiration from the film's specific style and atmosphere, it presents independent stories that do not require prior knowledge of the movie's plot.
What is the 1996 Fargo movie about?
The 1996 Fargo film follows a heavily pregnant police chief who investigates a series of homicides. These crimes are connected to a bumbling criminal's scheme that goes wrong, resulting in a dark narrative centered on the investigation in a cold, snowy setting.
How are the 1996 Fargo movie and the 2014 show related?
The 2014 Fargo television series is adapted from the 1996 movie directed by Joel Coen. The show utilizes the same title and thematic elements as the original film, focusing on similar crime-based narratives while operating as a separate production with its own distinct storyline.